Fluid-displacing apparatus



Jan. 15, 1929. 1,699,328

A. C. DURDIN, JR

FLUID DI'SPLAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1927 3 Sheefsheet 1 Jan. 15, 1929.

A. C. DURDIN, JR

FLUID DISPLAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1927' 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 i' lllllll' Jan.'l5, 1929. 1,699,328 A. c. DURDIN, JR

FLUID DI-SPLACING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES AUGUSTUS C. DURIDIN, JR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLUID-DISPLACING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 29, 1927. Serial 110.329,!559.

This invention relates to fluid displacing apparatus adapted for creating vacuum orproducing pressure and it relates more particularly to that t pe of fluid displacing apparatus which emp oys a rotating impeller or rotor in conjunction with a body of liquid for creating vacuum or producing pressure. Thisinvention is in the nature of an improvement upon fluid displacing apparatus of the type shown and described in my application filed June 16, 1927, Serial No. 199,151, patented March 27th, 1928, #1,664,249 although it 1s to be understood that the invention is applicable to forms of fluid displacing apparatus other than that shown and described in said prior application. One of the objects of the invention is to increase the efficiency of apparatus of this character. Another obj ect is to minimize the possibility of leakage between the stationary parts and the rotating impeller thus minimizing loss of efficiency. Another object is to obtain higher vacuum. With these and other objects and advantages in view this invention consists in a fluid disilacin" a aratus embod ing an im ller or rotor having one or more blades that extend spirally or along involute curves from a place spaced away from the axis of the impeller or rotor to the periphery thereof and which rotate past alternately arranged liquid ports and fluid ports, in conjunction with a liquid seal between the blades of the impeller-and the walls which separatethe liquid ports from the fluid ports, whereb Y the fluid is prevented from leaking around t e ended the impeller blades and returning to the fluid passage ways. The invention further consists in a fluid displacing apparatus having an impeller or rotor formed with blades that extend spirally or along involute curves from a place spaced away from the axis of the impeller to the periphery thereof, which blades have concentric portions which travel past alternately arranged liquid ports and fluid ports, certain of the walls which define the liquid ports being formed with orifices for admitting liquid from the liquid passage ways to the clearance space between said walls and the impeller blades, whereby a liquid seal is provided be? tween said walls and blades. The invention :t'urther consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

for providing the liquid and fluid The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section taken through a fluid displacing apparatus embodying a simple form of the present invention, the line of section being indicated at 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fi 3 is an end View of a certain partition mem er assage. ways, the view being taken in the direction indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view, in vertical section of the impeller and the liquid and fluid passage ways showing the impeller in a position occupied during its rotation about its axis; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the impeller in a second position; Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 4, showing the impeller in a third position; Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 4;, showing the impeller in a fourth position; Fig. 8 is a planof the partition member shown in Fig. 3 and illustrating in dotted lines the position of the impeller with respect thereto;

Fig. 9 is a plan of an impeller or rotor showing the application of a multiple arrangement of spiral blades and channels; F ig. 10 is a plan of a partition member employed with an impeller of the form illustrated in Fig. 9 and showing the impeller in dotted lines; Fig. 11 is a detail longitudinal section through said impeller andpartition member taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 12 and Fig. 12 is a detail cross section taken on the line 1212 in Figs. 10 and 11.

Referring to. said drawings, which illustrate a simple embodiment of the present invention, the reference character 10 designates a casing which may be of suitable form having a liquid inlet passage 11, a fluid inletlpassage 12 and a discharge passage 13. The casing is formed with the usual volute passage 14, which surrounds the impeller (hereafterdescribed) and leads to the discharge passage 13. J ournaled in suitable bearing brackets 15 is a. driveshaft 16 which may be driven at a relatively high speed from any suitable source of power. The shaft extends through the casing 10 from side to side as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, and stufling boxes are provided around said shaft in the two side walls of the casing toguard against leakage. Arranged within the casing and rigi ly mounted upon the drive shaft 16 is the impeller or rotor 17, which as shown may contain a circular side wall 18 having a hub mounted upon and secured to the shaft 16. In the form of impeller shown, the side wall 18 is formed at its periphery with a cylindrical wall 19, and from said cylindrical wall 19 extend two parallel, spaced flanges or walls 20 which enter the volute portion 1 1 of the casing. Extending between the flanges 20 are the impeller blades 21, 21, two blades being illustrated in the drawings, and each of said blades is arranged spirally or along an involute curve extending around the axis of rotation of the impeller, from the inner cylindrical face of the cylindrical wall 19 thereof, to the periphery of the impeller, which in this case coincides with the peripheries of the flanges 20. The flanges 20 and blades 21, 21 form passage ways or channels 0, through the impeller, of spiral or involute curve formation and lead from the interior of the impeller to its periphery, and in the operation of the apparatus, alternate slugs of liquid, such as water, and fluid, such as gas or air, are taken into said channels from the interior of the impeller and discharged at the peripheral side thereof.

WVithin the casing 10 are liquid passage ways and fluid passage ways designated by the reference letters W, and A, respectively. The liquid passage ways W lead from the liquid inlet passage 11 and the fluid passage ways A lead from the fluid inlet passage 12 and these passage ways are separated by walls as will be presently described. The liquid passage ways and fluid passage ways open outward in radial directions and the contents of the passage ways are discharged into the channels of the impeller during its rotation.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the liquid and fluid passage ways are formed by a partition member 22 (see Figs. 3 and 8) bolted or otherwise secured to one side wall of the casing. The partition member may be-in the form of a casting formed with an annular passage 23 which communicates with an annular passage 12 of the fluid inlet passage 12 (see Fig. 1). The fluid passage ways A lead from the annular passage 23 and open outward through arcuate ports a that are arranged to be covered and uncovered by concentric portions ofthe impeller blades. The passage ways A of the partition member are contained within walls a a which extend from the radial walls that form the annular portion 23 of the fluid passage way to the internal face of the cylindrical wall 19 of the impeller, the walls a of the partition member being cylindrical in form and fitting the internal face of the cylindrical wall 19. The cylindrical walls a of the partition member are extended beyond the arcuate ports a as at a cand the gaps beyond the ends of said arouate walls a form arcuate liquid ports a,

through which the liquid passes from the liquid passage ways W to the channels or conduits of the impeller.

In the form of the invention shown, the internal face of each impeller blade adjacent its forward end is made cylindrical as at 524:, concentric with the of rotation of the impeller, which concentric internal faces lit upon the external cylindrical faces of the cylindrical walls 0, a of the partition member 22. The external faces 2?, of the impeller blades are spiral or of involute form, and as a preferance throughout their extent, and extend from the inner side of the impeller to its periphery. At the rear ends of the concentric portions 524 of the impeller blades the inner faces 26 of the blades curve backward to form recesses or spaces 25, and said faces extend parallel withthe outer faces 27 of the vanes and throughout a considerable portion of the length thereof. The concentric portions 2 1 as a preference are of suflicient extent to entirely cover the liquid ports, and to entirely cover the fluid ports.

In the operation of the apparatus thus f described, liquid enters the liquid pas-- ways W and fluid enters the flui d pas 1 ways A, and during the rotation of th peller the forward or concentric portion of each blade thereof passes each the liquid port a (see Fig. l) thereby trapping a slug of liquid in the channel between the two blades, after which the forward end of each blade passes across the fluid port a (see Fig. 5) thereby trapping a slug of air in the channel of the impeller. The forward cud of each blade then passes across the arcuate wall a (see Fig. 6) and then passes across the opposite liquid port a (see Fig. 7) trapping another slug of liquid at this place which slug enters the channel between the two blades of the impeller. Because of the spiral or involute form of the blades and channels, the liquid and the fluid are drawn into the channels and moved outward in radial directions and finally discharged through the discharge ends 28 of the channels of the impeller and into the volute 142, from which the liquid and fluid escape through the discharge passage 13. After the forward part of an impellerblade has covered a fluid port, there is no further movement of fluid into that part of the channel, although the blade continues to more the fluid outward.

It has been found that there is atendency for the air or other fluid, caught in the chair-- nels of the impeller, to lealrpast the forward. ends of the impeller blades while passing the cylindrical walls a (see Fi 6) and flow back into the fluid passages A. This is indicated in Fig. 6 by the arrows To eliminate the possibility of leakage of the air or other fluid. back to the fluid passage ways A, I provide a liquid seal between the concentric face 2% of each impeller blade and the concentric face 29 IUD of each wall a". The liquid seal is formed by providin orifices 30 through the wall a close to the ends thereof that are adjacent the fluid passage ways A. Liquid in the liquid passage ways l/V, flows through the orifices 30 and into the clearance spaces between the adjacent concentric faces of the impeller blades 21, 21 and walls a and forms a liquid seal which effectively prevents the air orother fluid from leaking back through said clearance space and into the fluid passage ways A. It is preferred to form a number of the orifices 30 in each wall a? and to make them very small in size so as to limit the quantity of liquid passing through them.

In Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive, the impeller 17 is formed with a series of spiral blades 21, 21 and channels 0, disposed side by side along the circumference of the impeller, and similar in all essential characteristics, to the blades and channels of the form illustrated in 1 to 8 inclusive. WVhen a series or number of such spiral channels are employed the ends of the blades of one series are placed intermediate the ends of the blades of the other set or sets and as a preference the ends of each set are spaced equidistant from each other. \Vhere two sets are used, one set of blades is placed 180 degrees away from the other set as is best seen in Fig. 12. The channels 0, formed by the two sets of blades are spaced apart by a radial wall or flange 20' whose internal edge coincides with the internal faces of the cylindrical walls 19 and fit upon the cylindrical walls an, e of the partition member 22 which correspond with the cylindrical walls a a of the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8.

The outlet ports a of the liquid passage ways W and fluid outlet ports a of the fluid passage ways A extend across and open to the inlet openings to bot-h channels 0. The apertures 30, are provided through each wall a as before to prevent the air or other fluid from passing around the forward end of each impeller blade as it passes over the wall a. To prevent the air or other fluid from passing around the wall or flange 20 from one channel 0, to the other, while the forward end of each blade is passing over the cylindrical wall a, circumferentially arranged apertures 30" are formed through said wall a under the wall or flange 20 of the impeller, which permit liquid to flow from the liquid passage ways 7 through said apertures 30" to the clearance space between the walla and the concentric faces of the forward portions of the impeller blades and flanges or walls 20* behind them. The liquid which enters this clearance space acts as a liquid seal between the two side by side channels, thereby preventing the air or other fluid from escaping from one channel into the other.

It has been found that by providing the liquid seal as above described, a higher vacuum may be maintained with the same apparatus unprovided with such liquid seal, consequently its efliciency is increased.

lVhile there are a great many situations where an apparatus of this kind may be employed, it is found especially desirable for use 111 connection with steam heating plants for creating a vacuum in the system and exhausting the liquids and other condensates. Apparatus of this kind, being usually driven by an electric motor, it is highly desirable that the greatest possible efficiency be obtained at a minimum cost of operatlonn The elimination of leakage is an important factor, and has been accomplished in thepres ent apparatus. l

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit ofthis invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having a channel extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, a blade forming one side of said channel, the innerface of the forward end of said blade being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluidpassage ways, spaced apart by a wall having an arcuate part, and terminating in outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of the impeller, and arranged to be covered and uncovered by the concentric portions of said blade, and a liquid seal formed between said arcuate wall and the concentric face of said impeller blades.

2. In fluid displacing apparatus, the com bination of an impeller having a channel extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, a blade forming one side of said channel, the inner face of the forward end of said blade being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, and acasing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid passage ways. spaced apart by a wall having an arcuate part, and terminating in outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of the impeller, and arranged to be covered and uncovered by the concentric portions of said blades,

there being orifices extending through said arcuate wall from the liquid passage way, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having blades forming channels extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, the inner faces of the forward ends of said blades being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, a casing in which'said impeller is mount ed, said casing containing liquid and fluid passage ways spaced apart by walls having arcuate parts and having outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of said impeller. and from which passage ways liquid and fluid flow into the channels in said impeller, the ports of said liquid and fluid passage ways being arranged to be covered and uncovered by said impeller blades, and a liquid seal formed between said arcuate walls and the concentric faces of the impeller blades.

4. In fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having blades forming channels extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, the inner faces of the forward ends of said blades being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid' passage ways spaced apart by walls having arcuate parts and having outlet ports disposed around the arls of rotation of said impeller, and from which passage ways liquid and fluid flow into the channels in said impeller, the ports of said liquid and fluid passage ways being arranged to be covered and uncovered by said impeller blades,there being: orifices through said arcuate walls, leading from the liquid passage ways to the external side of said walls, and through which orifices liquid may flow to clearance spaces between said walls and concentric faces of the impeller blades.

5. In a fluid displacing apparatus, the combination with a casing, having liquid passap e ways and fluid passage ways terminating in ports arranged circuinferentially around a common center and spaced apart by walls, of an impeller mounted to rotate around said ports and having impeller blades, each extending in a direction from the internal side of the impeller to its peripheral side, to form a channel therebetween, the inner faces of the forward portions of said blades being concentric with the axis of retation of the impeller and traveling across said liquid and fluid ports, and there being); orifices in certain of said walls leading; from the liquid passage ways to clearance spaces between said walls and the concentric faces ot the impeller blades. 7

6. In a fluid displacing apparatus, the combination with a chambered casing and walls therein dividing the chamber into liquid and fluid passage ways terminating in out-let ports arranged eircumferentially around a common center, certain. of said walls being arcuate in form and extending in a circumferential direction from each fluid port toward another one to leave the liquid ports therebetween, of an impeller mounted in said casing to rotate around said ports, and having impeller blades, each extending in a direction from the internal side of the impeller to its peripheral side, to form av channel therebetween, the inner faces of the forward ends of said blades being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller and traveling across said liquid and fluid ports, and there being orifices in said arcuate walls, leading from the liquid passage ways to clearance spaces between said walls and the concentric faces of the impeller blades.

7. In a fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of a casing having; liquid and fluid passage ways therein spaced apartby walls, and terminating in outlet ports disposed around a common center, an impeller mounted to rotate in said casing on an axis concentrio with said common center and having at least one blade extending from the internal side of the impeller to its peripheral side and forming a channel leading from the internal side of the impeller to its peripheral side. the inner face of the forward end of said blades being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller and arranged to entirely close and. uncover each port in succession.

8. In fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having a series of channels. arranged side by side and each e2;- tending from the internal side of the impeller to its peripheral side, said channels being: spaced apart by an annular member, and a casing in which said impeller mounted. said casing containing liquid and fluid passage ways spaced apart by a wall having an arr-uate part over which said annular member passes, said passage ways terminating in outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of the impeller, and adapted for the passaae of liquid and fluid to said channels of the impeller, and a liquid seal formed between said arcuate wall and annular member.

9. In fluid displacingapparatus, the combination of an impeller having a series of channels. arranged side by side and each extending from the internal side of the impeller to its peripheral side, said channels being: spaced apart by an annular member, and a casing in which said impeller mounted, said casing containingliquid and fluid passane ways spaced apart by a wall having an arcuate part over which said annular member passes, said passage ways terminating in outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of the impeller, and adapted for the passage of liquid and fluid to said channels of the impeller, there being); apertures formed in said arcuate wall in line with said annular member and leading from said liquid passage way. a

10. In fluid displacingapparatus, the combination of an impeller having; spaced channels extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, a blade forming one side of each channel, the inner face of the forward end of said blade being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid passage ways, spaced apart by a wall having an arcuate part, and terminating in outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of the impeller, and arranged to be covered and uncovered by the concentric portions of said blades, and a liquid seal formed between said arcuate wall and the concentric faces of said impeller blades.

11. In fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having blades placed side by side and forming a series of channels extending side by side from its internal side to its peripheral side, the inner faces of the forward ends of said blades being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid passage ways spaced apart by walls having arcuate parts and having outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of said impeller, and from which passage ways liquid and fluid flow into the channels in said impeller, the ports of said liquid and fluid passage ways being arranged to be covered and uncovered by said impeller blades, and a liquid seal formed between said arcuate walls and the concentric faces of the impeller.

12. In fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having blades placed side by side and forming a series of channels extending side by side from its internal side to its peripheral side, the inner faces of the forward ends of said blades being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid pas sage ways spaced apart by walls having arcuate parts and having outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of said impeller, and from which passage ways liquid and fluid flow into the channels in said impeller, the ports of said liquid and fluid passage ways heingarranged to be covered and uncovered by said impeller blades, there being orifices through said arcuate Walls, leading from the liquid passage ways to the external side of said walls, and through which orifices liquid may flow to clearance spaces between said walls and concentric faces of the impeller.

13. In a fluid displacing apparatus, the combination with a chambered casing and walls therein dividing the chamber into liquid and fluid passage ways terminating in outlet ports arranged circumferentially around a common center, certain of said walls being arcuate in form and extending in a circumferential direction from each fluid port toward another one to leave the liquid ports therebetween, of an impeller mounted in said casing to rotate around said ports, and having impeller blades arranged side by Side, each extending in a direction from the internal side of the impeller to its peripheral side, to form channels therebetween that lie side by side, the inner faces of the forward ends of said blades being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller and traveling across said liquid and fluid ports, and there being orifices in said arcuate walls, leading from a mounted in said casingto rotate aroun said ports, and having impeller blades. arranged side by side, each extending in a direction from the internal side of the impeller to its peripheral side, to form channels therebetween that lie side by side, there beingvan annular flange connecting said blades and the inner faces of the forward ends of said blades and annular flange. being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller and traveling across said liquid and fluid ports, and there being orifices in said arcuate walls, leading from the liquid passage ways to clearance spaces between said walls and the eoncentric faces of the impeller blades and annular flange. i

15. In a fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having a channel extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, a blade forming one side of said channel, the inner face of the forward end of said blade being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid passage ways, one spaced apart from the other by a wall having an arcuate part, contained inthe interior of the impeller and partially covering said liquid passageways, said liquid and fluid passageways terminating in outlet ports, between said arcuate wall and disposed around the axis of rotation of the impeller, and arranged to be closed and uncovered by the concentric portion of said blade.

16. In a fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having a channel extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, a blade forming one side of said channel, the inner face of the forward end minating in outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of the.impeller, and arranged to be covered and uncovered by the concentric portions of said blade, there being an arcuate wall extending between the outlet ports of said liquid and fluid passage ways, and a liquid seal formed between said arcuate wall and the concentric face of said impeller blade 17 In fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having a chanenl extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, a blade forming one side of said channel, the inner face of the forward end of said blade being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid passage ways, terminating in outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of the impeller, and arranged to be covered and uncovered by the concentric portions of said blades, there being an arcuate wall extending between the outlet ports of said liquid and fluid passage ways, and there being orifices extending through said arcuate wall from the liquid passageway, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having blades forming channels extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, the inner faces of the forward ends of said blades being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid passage ways having outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of said impeller, and from Which passage ways liquid and fluid flow into the channels in said impeller, the ports of said liquid and fluid passage ways being arranged to be covered and uncovered by said impeller blades, there being arcuate walls extending between the outlet ports of said passage ways, and a liquid seal formed between said arcuate walls and the concentric faces of the impeller blades.

19. In a fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having a channel extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, a blade forming one side of said channel, the inner face of the forward end of said blade being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid passageways terminating in liquid outlet ports andfluid outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation of the impeller, and each fluid outlet port being spaced from an adjacent liquid outlet port by an arcuate wall extending from the fluid outlet port in the direction of rotation of the rotor, said liquid outlet ports and fluid outlet ports being arranged to be closed and uncovered in succession by the concentric portion of said blade.

20. In a fluid displacing apparatus, the combination of an impeller having a channel extending from its internal side to its peripheral side, a blade formin one side of said channel, the inner face oi the forward end of said blade being concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller, and a casing in which said impeller is mounted, said casing containing liquid and fluid passageways one spaced apart from the other by a wall, said liquid and fluid passageways terminating in outlet ports disposed around the axis of rotation o the impeller, and each fluid outlet port being spaced from an adjacent liquid outlet port by an arcuate Wall extend ing from the fluid outlet port in the direc' tion of rotation of the rotor, said liquid and fluid outlet ports being arranged to be closed and uncovered by the concentric portion of the blade.

AUGUSTUS C. DUB-DIN, JR. 

